This is a momentous Friday night for us. This coming week my parents will be moving to our town to a retirement community. I have not lived near my mom since I was 16 years old. I am really looking forward to having my folks close. We are busy planning to ensure that their transition is joyful.

We are relaxing, reading the paper and listening to music. For dinner, I have made a chicken casserole with fresh mushrooms (from the food co-op), broccoli (food co-op) and a green salad (food co-op). Wow, I guess one of the great things about the food co-op is it forces me to prepare meals using the food!

This is a great wine. We have had many times before. I never buy this but Tom always does. I always forget how good it is. This is a spicy, fruity wine with a coffee and chocolate finish. Tom bought this on sale at our local grocery store for $9.99. A great value.

A very busy week and weekend in our household. We have so much going on it is really a challenge. But here we are having this delicious Chilean wine — Don Manuel Carmenere 2009 — with a scrumptious dinner.

What I most love about this wine is the luscious color (deep, dark, blackish red) and the finish (dark chocolate with a hint of coffee).

What an absolutely lovely day! The snowstorm closed the schools (including mine) and I had a mid-week surprise day off. It was a great day. I started my day with an extra cup of coffee (with Trigger on my lap) and then met my friend, Chris, for a 5-mile blustery, snow-blowing run. Thank goodness for Yak Trax! I put them on my running shoes and I don’t slip and slide on the snow. After my run, I settled in for a little crochet project (I am making a baby blanket for a friend who is expecting her first baby in April). It was a fun day from start to finish. Now, we are enjoying this Chilean Carmenere before our dinner of braised pork loin, mashed potatoes and gravy, spinach and salad.

We have a lot of fluffy snow; Tom used the snow blower and got our driveway and sidewalks clean. Now it is time to relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor!

I purchased this Chilean P.K.N.T. Carmenere today at our local grocery style while doing a major food shopping expedition. This was $8.99 and on sale today for around $6.

This is quite yummy! The nose has a fresh and spicy aroma and the palate is spicy and dry. I have no complaints, whatsoever, about this very reasonably priced Chilean wine.

I had some fresh mushrooms in the refrigerator so I sauteed them (along with ground beef and onions) and added spices, tomatoes and spinach for a spaghetti sauce that has been simmering for the last 3 hours. I also have some very dark, flat greens (that arrived as part of my vegetable food co-op share) and I am not sure whether this is spinach or kale or something else?), but i will saute in olive oil. And, I am going to make a fresh green salad. Should be a healthy and filling dinner. This wine will be a good choice for a strong-flavored spicy meal.

I have had a lovely day! I am home during this week between Christmas and New Year’s and loving every minute.

It is Monday night after our Thanksgiving weekend. I was going to say that it was difficult to go back to work today, but after thinking about those people who are unemployed and how grateful I am for my position, I have to say that I was happy to be able to go back to work.

Nonetheless, it is nice to be home after a long day! We have our Christmas tree lit and music on the stereo and dinner in the oven. Very cozy!

Tom chose this Chilean wine for our evening cocktail hour and dinner. This is delicious and complex. The nose is fruity but not sweet. The taste . . .ooh la la! Lots of flavors: berries, coffee, chocolate and spices. Our kind of wine, for sure! The finish is tobacco and chocolate.

For dinner, I have a casserole that is a bit like a meatloaf with sliced potatoes (and other vegetables & some cheese) on top. . .smells good. . .and some baked acorn squash and a salad.